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Aurora Considers Smoke-Free Ban at Aurora Police Headquarters Complex, Including Outdoors...What About All Government Facilities?

2009-12-08T03:00:00.000-06:00

On Tuesday, the City of Aurora's Government Operations Committee will consider an ordinance change targeted for the new soon-to-be open Aurora Police Headquarters extending the smoke-free restrictions to include all tobacco-related products anywhere on the 25 acre campus, including outdoors and parking deck.

Illinois law currently prohibits smoking indoors and restricts it from within 15 feet of the building entrance, but Aurora's proposal would include everywhere inside or outside the buildings to the boundaries of the campus.

Do you support this type of restriction?

And, if so, should this same restriction be applied equally across ALL city government facilities, including City Hall, fire stations, library and departments such as water, streets and city's central garage?

What about all other public facilities? County, park districts, schools, state and federal?

Fleecing of America | Bailout Funds...It's Your Money

2009-12-08T02:21:00.000-06:00

Kane County's Largest Marijuana Drug Bust Ever

2009-12-08T01:05:00.000-06:00

Kane County State's Attorney John Barsanti says a multi-jurisdictional drug investigation may have resulted in the "largest single seizure of cannabis the Kane County State's Attorney's Office has ever been involved with."

Chicago Tribune reports six individuals were arrested last month for their role in trafficking of marijuana to the Chicago area.

Over 2,300 pounds were seized at an undisclosed location (not in Kane County). Those arrested include William Santana, 41 from Elgin; Edwardo Alanis-Garcia, 43 of Melrose Park; Joseph Lichay, 48 of Huntley; and Fabricio Mendiola, 26, Santos Nunez, 48 and Jose Arriga, 36 all of Chicago.

Lady Gaga Medley | By Sam Tsui and Kurt Schneider

2009-12-08T00:51:00.000-06:00

Aurora Police Headquarters | Insert Feedback Here

2009-12-07T06:13:00.001-06:00

The new Aurora Police Headquarters at 1200 E. Indian Trail was open to the public for self-guided tours this weekend after the City of Aurora held a "VIP and Media" event on Friday.

As expected, the massive $120 million complex will house over 300 officers and 92 support staff, 911 center, branch court, training facility and parking deck, but perhaps the most significant news development has nothing to do with the building itself.

Chief of Police Greg Thomas and Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner announced the facility will include an automated fingerprint identification system (AFIS) 4th Ward Alderman Rick Lawrence and rank-n-file police officers have been seeking to dramatically reduce the turnaround time for criminal investigations.

Currently, fingerprints are sent to the state's crime lab in Joliet and can take anywhere from a few months to a couple years for processing, depending on the type of case.

We strongly commend Alderman Lawrence for pursuing this critical crime-fighting tool to be included in the new police headquarters and for Chief Thomas and Mayor Weisner for implementing this tool that costs a relatively small amount, but may have significant impact on investigating and reducing crime.

As for the massive facility, it's clear the existing police station built in 1966 is dysfunctional and needed to be replaced with a modern facility that reflected Aurora's police department of today.

For those of you who toured the new Aurora Police Headquarters this past weekend, what was your opinion? What features will best serve the public and reduce crime? What would you have improved?

***UPDATE: On Tuesday, the Government Operations Committee will consider an ordinance to ban smoking and all tobacco-related products at the entire Aurora Police Headquarters campus, including outdoors.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates Meet the Press and Face the Nation on the Afghanistan Troop Surge

2009-12-07T03:15:00.005-06:00

Meet the Press + Face the Nation
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates
Afghanistan Surge

Blagojevich's Evidence Break-In

2009-12-07T00:12:00.000-06:00

Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich's lawyer's office had a break-in. Hear what Blago says about the odd situation.

City of Aurora Agrees to Retroactive Raises and Guarantees of No Layoffs in Exchange for 2 Weeks of Furloughs for AFSCME Local 3298

2009-12-04T01:45:00.004-06:00

AFSCME Local 3298 and the City of Aurora have agreed to a new contract, which includes raises and guarantees of no layoffs through the end of 2010 in exchange for two weeks (or 80 hours) of furloughs.

Raises will be retroactive to October 1, 2008 with a 3% increase, a salary freeze for one year and then a 2% increase on October 1, 2010.

The city says it will guarantee no layoffs in 2010 with the agreement of furlough days.

According to the Daily Herald, "in lieu of taking unpaid days off (furlough days), an employee may also choose to have the accumulated monetary value of the furlough days prorated on an annual basis, and then deducted in equal amounts over the 26 pay checks they receive during the year."

Local 3298 includes 210 full-time and part-time support staff, including clerical, inspectors, maintenance and customer service.

City of Aurora officials project a $19 million deficit for 2010.

Job Summit | Solutions or PR Stunt?

2009-12-04T00:48:00.000-06:00

Election 2010 | While Alexi Giannoulias Ducks Debates, David Hoffman Launches Television Commercials in U.S. Senate Race for Obama's Former Seat

2009-12-04T00:20:00.001-06:00

David Hoffman, the former U.S. Attorney and Chicago Inspector General, has launched the first of his television commercials for his campaign for the Democrat's nomination for the U.S. Senate seat, formerly held by President Barack Obama.

Some say Hoffman may be the right person at the right time as Illinois and Chicago's Culture of Corruption have reached epidemic problems, which may explain why opponent Alexi Giannoulias has been ducking opportunities for debate.

Mark Kirk is likely to be the Republican nominee. With various issues surrounding Giannoulias involving his family's bank, Hoffman may be the strongest opponent for Kirk.

Who do you think will end up in the general election?

Are Urban Area Township Government Units Clout Farms and Taxpayer Waste? Time to Say Goodbye to Township Government?

2009-12-03T06:14:00.005-06:00

ABC7's I-Team and the Better Government Association (BGA) took a close look at the role and waste of township government units in Cook County as clout farms.

While suburban townships such as Aurora, Naperville and Wheatland have a more relevant role for the township assessor, is it in the taxpayer's best interest to have township government in urban areas?

Should the assessor's role and road responsibilities be shifted to counties and cities with township government eliminated?

Aurora Election Commission Seeks More Money for 2010

2009-12-03T05:50:00.003-06:00

The Aurora Election Commission is asking for a budget increase from $455,415 in 2009 to $484,291 in 2010.

Kane County currently reimburses a portion of the expenses for the election commission, which serves the Aurora residents of Kane, Kendall and Will Counties. DuPage County residents of Aurora are served by the DuPage County Election Commission.

With a move from their current facility in downtown Aurora expected due to the city giving away the Elks Club property to a developer, the question has surfaced again as to why have the Aurora Election Commission.

Kane County has said they would be willing to set-up a branch office in Aurora so the people of Aurora would still maintain the same convenience.

With technology becoming an increasing cost of elections, it seems to be more efficient for the various counties to handle the election process.

Declaration of War on Asian Carp Invasion to Protect Lake Michigan and Great Lakes

2009-12-03T05:14:00.004-06:00

Over 300 people from state, federal and international authorities are involved in an operation to kill over 200,000 pounds of fish with a toxic chemical into a 6 mile stretch of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, as part of an effort to prevent the invasion of Asian Carp entering Lake Michigan and the rest of the Great Lakes.

Change | President Barack Obama vs. Candidate Barack Obama

2009-12-03T03:38:00.003-06:00

Tiger Woods | Uh Oh...

2009-12-03T03:16:00.004-06:00

A voice mail has surfaced allegedly from Tiger Woods that seems to confirm the sports superstar had an affair. Tiger's week of wreck continues.

Job Creation | Commentary By John Stossel

2009-12-03T01:05:00.000-06:00

Michaele and Tareq Salahi Speak Out on the White House Party Crasher Controversy | What About Social Secretary and Obama's Friend Desiree Rogers?

2009-12-02T04:19:00.001-06:00

President Obama's New Afghanistan War Strategy with 30,000 Troop Increase

2009-12-02T01:51:00.002-06:00

Tiger Woods | Need to Know or Leave Them Alone?

2009-12-01T05:13:00.006-06:00

As long as Tiger Woods did not break any law with his auto accident, should the media and public respect the line he has drawn and not discuss any details or because he is one of the most well-known athletes, it's important to know? Has the superstar image of Tiger Woods been adversely affected or is it too early to tell?

Fleecing of Illinois | State Fiscal Crisis Spreads; Quinn Seeks to Sink Taxpayers Into More Debt

2009-12-01T05:03:00.001-06:00

Fleecing of America | Banks and Congress Sting Your Credit Cards

2009-12-01T05:00:00.005-06:00

Congress passed new rules for credit card companies to prevent them from taking advantage of consumers, so what happened?

Banks are taking full advantage of consumers by jacking up credit card rates, reducing credit limits and creating a mess for credit card users during the holiday shopping season.

All because when Congress passed the new legislation, it also gave financial institutions a lengthy period to "prepare" which meant they were able to use this time to their advantage and reset millions of accounts.

Death Mystery at Naperville Central High School

2009-12-01T00:31:00.000-06:00

Holiday Price Wars | Will You Spend More or Less Than Last Year?

2009-11-30T05:58:00.002-06:00

Amazon is taking the holiday price war seriously this year by hitting big retailers such as Wal-Mart directly at matching prices. As more purchases move from bricks to clicks, the big question is whether U.S. consumers will spend more or less this year? What about you?

Brett Farve Launches Almost 400 Yards and 3TDs in Minnesota Vikings 36-10 Smackdown of Chicago Bears | 1-6 Last Seven Games...Should Lovie Smith Go?

2009-11-30T00:26:00.000-06:00

Chicago Bears not only lost their 4th straight, 6th out of 7 last games, a critical division match-up with Minnesota, but if there was any doubt before, the idea of any playoffs is basically over as they drop to 4-7 with five games left (St. Louis, Green Bay, Baltimore, Minnesota, Detroit).

Future Hall of Fame QB Brett Favre smoked the Bears defense for 392 yards and 3 TD's while future franchise QB Jay Cutler had another challenging day, including more interceptions.

What went wrong in the season for hope? Was it simply Brian Urlacher's injury? Or has the love for Lovie Smith worn off and is it time for a change?

How will the Bears finish the season? Should the Chicago Bears seek a new head coach for 2010?

White House Party Crashers Met President Obama - Power to the People or Did They Do Something Wrong?

2009-11-28T02:11:00.005-06:00

Michaele and Tareq Salahi meet President Obama

(photo courtesy White House)

The highlight for President Barack Obama's first official state dinner (for India) turns out to be the national buzz over Michaele and Tariq Salahi's visit.

The DC-area socialites were able to get inside, mingle and even meet President Obama, all without one of the special invitations.

The Secret Service says there was never any danger to the President since all guests have to go through the same security procedures, but many say that the incident still represents a security "breach."

Does going to a taxpayer-funded fancy party for the rich and famous mean they did something ethically, legally or morally wrong?

What about the rest of the guests who DID get an invitation? Katie Couric and her 17 years younger boytoy? What makes them any more important?

Considering the state dinner was for India, we understand CNN correspondent and neurosurgeon Dr. Sanjay Gupta's invitation, but Oprah's buddy, Gayle King? What makes her more special than 300 million other people?

President Barack Obama said he was going to CHANGE Washington and politics as usual. Maybe this is a good opportunity to learn a lesson. For the next state dinner or fancy event at hundreds of thousands of dollars of taxpayer expense, how about inviting 300 or so random taxpayers to spend time in their White House?

Government at all levels need to remember who the real VIP is...you, the taxpayer.